FRA 05-23

May 8, 2023

Contact: FRA Public Affairs

Tel.: (202) 493-6024 

FRAPA@DOT.gov

Biden-Harris Administration, USDOT Make Funds Available Through New 

Program to Help States Advance Intercity Passenger Rail Development 

Interstate Rail Compacts Program will help foster essential partnership agreements between states to 

develop passenger rail service

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued a Notice of Funding 

Opportunity (NOFO) announcing the availability of $5.8 million in funding from the Bipartisan 

Infrastructure Law for the Interstate Rail Compacts (IRC) Program. As part of President Biden’s 

Investing in America agenda, this program will provide federal funding and technical assistance to 

entities implementing IRCs, which are a vital early step to delivering rail projects in local communities.

IRCs are identical agreements passed into law by two or more states that support and facilitate

development of multi-state and regional intercity passenger rail services. Funding from the new program 

will provide eligible entities the opportunity to improve, promote, and develop passenger rail service

across and between their states.

“President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing billions to increase rail safety and expand 

passenger rail service across the country, and this program provides yet another opportunity to deliver 

the 21st century rail network Americans need and deserve,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “The 

Interstate Rail Compacts Program will facilitate multi-state partnerships to bring world-class passenger 

rail to more communities while supporting the long-term growth of America’s rail network.”

Grants awarded through the IRC program will be eligible to fund the costs of administering IRCs; 

systems planning, including studying the impacts on freight rail operations and ridership; promotion of 

intercity passenger rail operation; preparation of applications for competitive federal grant programs; 

and operations coordination.

U.S Department of Transportation

Office of Public Affairs

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

www.transportation.gov/briefingroom 

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While the funds awarded through the IRC program will not directly fund rail capital projects, activities 

supported by it will help prepare entities implementing IRCs to deliver rail capital projects to 

communities across their regions that are aligned with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s strategic 

goals.

Applications for the program are due to FRA no later than July 10, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET. The NOFO, 

which contains detailed information about the grant application process, is on public inspection in the 

Federal Register here.

This announcement is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which is growing the 

American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to 

driving over $435 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United 

States, to creating good paying jobs and building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate 

change and make our communities more resilient.

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